A woman found dead outside Pohlen Hospital in Matamata early yesterday morning has been identified as 18-year-old Jovaan Rahera Graham from Tauranga.

Miss Graham was found by security staff about 4am.

Police are working on the belief that she was hit by a car on State Highway 29. The driver of the vehicle was then abducted and assaulted prior to the woman's body being left outside the hospital.

A post mortem will be carried out later today which is expected to confirm how she died.

Police today said an appeal for sightings of a stolen Nissan and the Toyota Prado involved in the crash and abduction has resulted in a positive public response.

A number of people have come forward with relevant information but police are still keen to hear from two trucks drivers who were travelling along SH29 at approximately 3am when the victim of the abduction attempted to flag them down.